26

TWENTY-SEVEN

Ember

I awake in soft, warm sheets within a rose-themed room. The silk covers are adorned with pink and white roses, the walls are covered in rose wallpaper, and the tables are decorated with vases full of baby pink roses.

The wooden canopy bed is draped with luscious ruffled sheer white fabric. It’s so romantic and cozy. To the right of the bed stands a floor-to-ceiling window which is draped with similar fabric. In Front of the window sits white sofas and a glass table covered with books and roses. The adjacent wall has two doors on either side of a white fireplace. The fire burns neon blue, reminding me of my prince.

Good morning, Princess. I hear Willow whisper through the bond.

My heart instantly warms as I stretch under the covers and glance at Amara still soundlessly sleeping next to me. I’m obsessed with the room Prince Willow set aside for her. It’s so regal but also reminds me of my apartment in some ways. It feels like home.

Good morning, Prince.

I could feel his heart warm through the bond, making me smile as I glanced up. There’s a collection of constellations carved into the stark white ceiling.

Did my mate sleep well last night? Will asked me?

I did. This room you’ve given Amara, for the time being, is absolutely beautiful. Thank you for keeping the fire going all night.

I could hear him humming down the bond. A little dragon, that room is yours.

I hesitated for a moment, pulling the covers tighter around my chest. What do you mean, it’s mine?

Don’t worry, you aren’t expected to stay there. But, I thought it was important for you to have your own space if you were to ever need it.

My tummy grows warm and fuzzy as if butterflies are dancing along my insides. I can’t get rid of the smile on my face.

Thank you. For thinking of my privacy in such a respectful manner.

Anything for you, my mate.

I didn’t hear much else from Willow and Amara continued to sleep. I don’t blame her since it’s been a rough few days. Pulling back the covers, I rise and tip-toe over to one of the doors on the left wall, curious about where the bathroom is. I peer inside and suck in a breath as the world’s most beautiful closet lays before me.

Luscious fabrics are layered along every wall. It’s full of all my favorite colors, textiles, and accessories. On the far wall sits the most elaborate collection of shoes and jewelry.

Did he build me a queen’s closet?

Willow?

Yes, little dragon?

I hate that his nickname is growing on me.

Did you build me a closet?

He laughed through the bond and it filled my chest with so much joy.

Yes, I did. You told me you loved clothes and I figured you would need a place to store them.

I couldn’t hold in my squeal as I realized everything that is spread before me, belongs to me. I hear the sheets move as Amara starts to wake up. I rush over to her and hiss through my teeth. She’s not a happy riser and I totally just woke her up.

“I’m so sorry, Amara!” I sat down on the bed next to her and tried to soothe her back to sleep.

“Fuck– off–” she mumbled into her pillow and turned away from me.

It’s better just to leave her alone.

I hear a knock on the door and breakfast is quickly delivered. Amara finally wakes up to eat some bacon and eggs, but quickly falls back asleep. I decide to pick one of the books from the coffee table and dive deep into the romance of two gods. It’s been half a day already and the sun is at its peak in the sky. I closed the curtains to help Amara sleep better but I’m starting to get worried.

I’ve never seen her sleep this much. Yes, she loves her rest but this is getting excessive. Breakfast was delivered hours ago. I hear another bell ringing by the door which signals lunchtime. Servants quickly flood the room as they rush to clean up the unfinished plates from breakfast and place new delicacies on the coffee table. I nibble on some cheese while debating whether to wake Amara or not.

Fuck it. If she doesn’t wake soon then I’m calling the healer either way.

Prince Willow and Artie attended magic training with his brothers this morning and they’ve spent the rest of the day locked in the library so far. He hasn’t notified me of finding any valuable information, so I would expect the hunt for knowledge to be unfruitful. I decided to stay back and keep an eye on Amara.

I walk to the edge of the bed and crawl in next to her. I slowly rub her back and try to wake her up. Thankfully, it doesn’t take long and she rises slowly.

“Is that cheese?” she sleepily asks me.

I laugh and wrap my arm around her in a tight snuggle. “Yes, yes it is. You should definitely eat some. Are you feeling okay? You’ve been sleeping for hours.”

“Geez, slow down. I just woke up. I need coffee first. Can’t think. Must. Drink.” Amara groggily sits up and rubs her eyes with the palms of her hand.

I slid out of the covers and quickly poured her a cup of coffee. I pour myself one as well. Walking back over to the bed, I hand her the cup of coffee and take a seat on the edge of the bed next to her. We sip our coffee in silence for a few moments.

“How are you doing? You slept half the day away, sis.” I ask Amara as she continues to nurse her coffee.

She stares out the window for what feels like forever, and then she finally faces me. “I just wasn’t ready to see him like that. He was my everything, Em. What happened to him? Has he been suffering?”

She turns to face me with swollen eyes and flushed cheeks.

I place my hand on top of hers and reassure her. “I’m so sorry. If I’m being honest, I don’t know. We will find out though, I promise. Willow and Artie have been searching for hours in his library but haven’t found anything regarding the king’s powers, my potential primal bloodline, or how to fulfill the prophecy from the goddess.”

She sighs. “We should probably join them.”

“Yeah, we probably should. But if you need more time to rest from yesterday, that’s not a problem either. Whatever you need, just tell me.”

She drank the rest of her coffee and set it down on the bedside table. “Enough sulking. I think we need to do everything we can to solve the Decay, find a way to counter the king’s powers, and figure out a way to get your bloodline back on the throne as soon as possible. In the process, I hope we’ll be able to help Brooks. That is, if we ever see him again.”

I nod my head and whisper down the bond, “We’ll meet you soon. Are you still in the library?”

I don’t get a response from him. He must be really deep in research to be ignoring me.

Amara and I crawl out of bed finally and head to the bathroom.

We always get ready together and I’m so excited to dive into my closet after we’re done freshening up.

“Holy shit.” I gasp after walking into the bathing chambers. I call them chambers, because it’s the same size as my bedroom. This is larger than the price’s bathing room. What was he thinking? Why do I need this much space?

I laugh to myself and Amara finally follows me into the bathroom. “Oh my stars,” she inhales. “This is regal.”

A continuation of the rose theme extends into this private bathing room. There’s a large stone bath in the center facing the large white paned windows. The same ruffle curtains drape on each side of the window. The bath is surrounded in rose petals, candles, elixirs and oils, scrubs and luscious pink towels.

“I think he loves you, Em.” Amara finally breaks my stupor.

I cough and choke on my own emotions as I respond, “No, he’s just being pulled by the moon’s powers. It’s just the moons.”  But as I say those worlds, there’s a part of me that wishes it to be true. I hope he loves me, because there’s somewhere deep in my heart that I know I love him too.

Or atleast, I’m finally starting to allow myself to feel that emotion. I’ve never felt it for anyone other than Brooks and Amara. They’ve been my everything and I’ve lost one of them.

The grief sneaks up on me again as we start to undress and step into the bathing pool. We relax in silence and take full advantage of the products Willow had set up for us. The rose scented oils and soaps are to die for.

I could live like this forever.

After thoroughly cleaning ourselves and enjoying every second of the pampering process, we finally climb out of the bathing pool and wrapped ourselves in the thick, fluffy towels that were set out.

With our hair wrapped up to dry, we head to the pink and white vanity and find a selection of creams, oils, and powders.

“Oh my,” I whisper to myself.

“I could get used to this.” Amara sighs as she starts to spray rose water on her skin.

I laugh and agree with her. This is pretty amazing. For the first time in my entire life, I really feel taken care of and… loved. It makes me nauseous to admit that, but it’s these small acts of kindness that wrap me around his finger.

I can’t wait to see you, my flame. Willow finally whispers down the bond after being silent all day.

What happened? I haven’t heard from you since this morning.

I start to apply creams to my face and pamper my skin with rose infused waters and oils.

Did you miss me?

No. I just wanted to tell you we’re coming to help search soon.

Ahh, well I know I’ve missed that pretty pussy of yours.

I inhale a small gasp as his forward response sparks a sudden warmth in my core. My toes curl and I bite my lip just thinking about the way his mouth feels on me. I crave that now. Fuck, he did this to me.

Amara leaves me in the bathroom and steps out to get dressed. I told her to take full authority over my new closet. She was jumping up and down with the news.

Don’t tease me like that. I can’t control how my body reacts with these moons influencing us.

He laughs. Maybe that’s the fun part.

I smile to myself. Yeah, I think I love this fae.

I leave the bathroom and join Amara in the closet. Which literally is its own room in itself. Oh my stars, this is every fae’s dream. A closet full of luxuries.

We take our time exploring all of the custom made outfits the prince had tailored for me. Luckily, Amara is the same size so she fits into everything I own and vice versa. We picked out our outfits finally and she went for a sleek and silk lilac sundress. While I went for the pink fighting leathers. It’s surprisingly thin and flexible, making it easy to fight or sit in for hours. I think this might be my new favorite item I have in my wardrobe. I paired it with black combat books and braided my hair straight down my back.

Amara looks absolutely ethereal, whereas I look ready to fight anyone coming around the corner. Together,we head to meet Artie and Willow in the library where they’re posted up.